January 7, 2015

SUCKING ALL THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE ROOM:

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush is quickly building a sophisticated political operation as he considers a presidential run, scooping up top GOP operatives and pressing party fundraisers to pull in large sums to back his efforts.

A day after Bush and his allies unveiled two political action committees, both dubbed Right to Rise, his aides were scheduling new finance events in Washington and other cities and pressing bundlers, who raise money from multiple donors, to make commitments to support the groups.

Some fundraisers have been asked to bring in at least $100,000 -- either by collecting checks for the $5,000 maximum that can be donated to Bush's leadership PAC or pulling in bigger donations for the super PAC, which can raise unlimited funds. [...]

[B]ush is rapidly scooping up senior party operatives with ties to Romney and other potential rivals.

Among those is Republican campaign finance lawyer Charlie Spies, who served as counsel to Romney and co-founded the super PAC that backed his 2012 White House bid. Spies set up the two PACs that make up Bush's new political operation.

People familiar with Bush's plans describe an ambitious schedule of events being planned across the country, with supporters clamoring to host the former governor and introduce him to potential backers.

One reads amusing comparisons of Jeb to John Connally and Phil Gramm, who were considered contenders because they had big money. Jeb is going to have big money because he's a contender.
Posted by Orrin Judd at January 7, 2015 8:33 PM
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